Alcohol-related problems and intimate partner violence among white, black,and Hispanic couples in the US

Objectives: This study analyzes gender and ethnic/racial differences in the prevalence of alcohol-related problems among white, black and Hispanic cou ples in the United Stales, and assesses their contribution to the risk of i ntimate partner violence (IPV). Methods: Our study population consisted of 1440 white, black, and Hispanic couples obtained through a multistage area household probability sample fro m the 1995 National Alcohol Survey. Alcohol-related problems (i.e., drinkin g consequences and alcohol dependence symptoms in the last 12 months) were assessed among respondents and their partners. Male-to-female and female-to -male partner violence (MFPV, FMPV) were measured separately using the Conf lict Tactics Scale. Results and Conclusions: Alcohol-related problems were more prevalent among men than women. Our bivariate analysis demonstrated a significant positive association between male alcohol-related problems and IPV across racial/et hnic groups, and a similar association between female alcohol-related probl ems and IPV for white and black couples. In the multivariate logistic regre ssion analyses, however, many of these associations were attenuated. After controlling for sociodemographic and psychosocial covariates, male alcohol- related problems were no longer significantly associated with an increased risk of MFPV among white or Hispanic couples. Female alcohol-related proble ms predicted FMPV, but not MFPV, among white couples. Among black couples, however, male and female alcohol-related problems remained strong predictor s of intimate partner violence. Significance: Alcohol-related problems are important predictors of intimate partner violence, and the exact association between problems and violence seems to be ethnic-specific. Alcohol-related problems, rather than level of alcohol consumption, may be the more relevant factor to consider in the al cohol-partner violence association. Future research is needed to explore th e temporal relationships between the development of alcohol-related problem s and the occurrence of partner violence.